Disney Adventure World, the second Disney park located in Paris, will be the first of the company to feature an area entirely dedicated to The Lion King. This novelty was revealed during the D23 2026 convention, where the company presented its future plans. The new attraction will occupy an area of 30 thousand square meters and will include a restaurant, a water ride, and Audio-Animatronic characters, which are robots capable of speaking and moving. Currently, an opening date has not yet been set.
About the themed area
At the heart of this area will be Pride Rock, a structure representing the mountain where the mandrill Rafiki raises the cub Simba at the beginning of the narrative. This formation will be 37 meters high and will feature three waterfalls, the largest of which is located 16 meters above ground level. Around the waterfalls, there will be a boat ride, allowing visitors to travel through caves and various scenery while following the animation's plot.
The setting of the area will replicate the African savanna, characterized by broad-canopied trees, sandy soil, and low vegetation. The film's characters will be present as Audio-Animatronics; Timon, Pumbaa, Scar, and Simba have already been confirmed, although other characters are planned for future additions. The soundtrack of the work will be continuously played while visitors explore the area and take the boat ride.
Although this specific area in Paris is unprecedented, The Lion King has had a show since 1998 at Animal Kingdom, known as Festival of The Lion King. In this show, the audience interacts with costumed artists, who divide the audience into four groups to simulate an organized animal cheering squad. The piece is a tribal celebration starring Simba, focusing more on choreography and music than on the complete plot of the feature film.
The film's debut in the parks occurred in July 1994, with the attraction The Legend of The Lion King, three weeks after its cinematic release. This presentation was shown until 2002 in the Fantasyland Theater, inside Magic Kingdom, using life-sized puppets to tell the story.
In addition to the Lion King section, the park in Paris will also have an attraction inspired by Up: Great Adventures, which was announced for next year. It is a flying chair carousel with a capacity of 64 people, called Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings, a name that refers to the scout group Russell participates in the film. Upon completing the experience, participants should receive a badge, similar to the one obtained by the character.
Return of Space Mountain
For the year 2028, Space Mountain will return to its original configuration, with the Earth to Moon theme, based on the eponymous novel by Jules Verne. This indoor roller coaster has been decorated with the Star Wars theme for the last ten years, under the name Hyperspace Mountain. The attraction will undergo a renovation period and is scheduled to close at the end of 2027.
Additionally, in the same year, the park will receive its new daytime parade featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends. This spectacle will feature eight floats presenting iconic company characters, such as Aladdin and Rapunzel.